Aging with dignity

Person ties bracelet around another person, people watch close by

The Older Americans Act, which provides important services for older adults, should be well-funded and improved to meet the needs of diverse elders, including Southeast Asian American elders.

Key resources:

Panelists smiling.

Featured story

an elder's hands

“Responsibility of becoming a caregiver for an ill family member can be shared; however, this responsibility usually ends up [with] those who speak the most English.”

Participant in our Diverse Elders Coalition’s caregiving initiative
Ocean in graduation robe

“I can tell you [my parents’] Social Security numbers right now because I’ve been supporting them my whole life.”

Diverse Elders Coalition
People smile as they write on paper

People Power in Action

Person holds sign saying My Mental Health Matters

Support for culturally competent mental health care

More research, community outreach, language and access support, diverse providers, and funding are needed on SEAA health and mental health.

People exercising

Access to universal care through Medi-Cal

All Californians should access necessary health care regardless of their immigration status or where they were born.

People hold up signs in support of ACA

Universal health care through the Affordable Care Act

Since its passage in 2010, the ACA has greatly increased access to affordable health care for SEAAs and reduced the number of SEAAs withouth health insurance. We must keep building on these successes.

Repost from @legaciesofwar: It was an incredible honor to kick off our Fall Advocacy Week on the Hill in DC with a 5th Anniversary Celebration of The Saigon Sisters!

Legacies co-hosted this special book talk alongside our friends at the @warlegaciesproject (WLP) and in collaboration with @searac , @peacetreesvietnam , (PTVN), and @article_22 Author Patricia D. Norland (Kit) was joined by panelists Susan Hammond, Founder and Executive Director of WLP,  and @_khamsone_ Sirimanivong, Vice Chair of Legacies, to amplify the voices and stories of Southeast Asian women and their communities — voices often excluded from conversations in the US surrounding western occupation and war in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in the 20th century. 

Special thank you to our dear friend, Quyen Dinh, Executive Director of SEARAC, for leading our discussion and to our Advocacy Ambassador, Allie Hansen, for opening the even and grounding our conversation, and to Rebecca Giovannozzi, Congressional Liaison with PTVN,  for closing our special event with powerful remarks. We are grateful for the many dedicated attendees and our Rockstar volunteers who supported the event and brought diverse perspectives and energy to today’s conversations.

This year is not only the 50th year of the end of the American Wars in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia,  but also marks the 50th year since the largest refugee resettlement in U.S. history as people fled the war. As we move into a chapter of history where atrocities are accelerating worldwide, we have so much to learn from the stories of resistance, resilience, and leadership from the Saigon Sisters — and from the women on this panel.

This discussion reminds us that history is not only about battles and borders, it’s about people, and especially women, whose stories are too often left untold. These voices help us to better understand the courage it takes to act on one’s convictions in times of uncertainty. We are grateful for works like The Saigon Sisters for challenging all of us to think about what reconciliation truly means — not as a single moment, but as an ongoing process of listening, understanding, and rebuilding trust.

15 0
As the government shutdown drags on, we call on Congress to protect the best interests of the people they serve. SEARAC wants to hear from you! Share how  the government shutdown is impacting you, your families, and your communities with SEARAC at bit.ly/SEARACShutdownSurvey or at the link in our bio.

14 0